Reversible pouring spout



May 25, 1965 G. B. GERSTEN REVERS IBLE POURING- SPOU'I,

Filed- March 15 1963 INV EN TOR. 65e4z0 6. 65957-5 United States Patent 3,185,361 REVERSIBLE POURING SPOUT Gerald B. Gersten, 908 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,478 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-539) The present invention relates, in general, to containers for gasoline or other inflammable highly volatile liquids and, in particular, to reversible pouring spouts therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly novel and generally simplified reversible pouring spout which can be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pouring spout of the described type which includes a lid or closure for the container and in which the lid is utilized to mount the spout both in the operative and in the inoperative conditions thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pouring spout of the described type provided with a pouring tube which need not be immersed within the contents of the container when not used to dispense such contents.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention Will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a container provided with a pouring spout pursuant to the present invention, the spout being in the inoperative condition thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, with the spout being shown in exploded relation;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, with the spout being shown in another inoperative disposition thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a view showing the spout being utilized to dispense the contents of a gasoline container.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a container 16 for gasoline or the like which is provided with a reversible pouring spout assembly 12 pursuant to the present invention.

As here shown, the container is of conventional construction, being fabricated of suitable sheet metal or other non-inflammable material. The container is completely enclosed except for a discharge opening 14 provided in the top Wall 16 thereof. Said discharge opening is defined by an upstanding collar 18 provided on the top wall 16. The collar is externally threaded, as at 29. A conventional handle 17 is provided on the top wall.

Pursuant to the present invention, the pouring spout assembly comprises a closure cap or cover 22, a disk or baffle 24, a nipple 26 and a tube 2(5. The closure cap or cover 22 is provided with a central aperture 30 and is interiorly threaded, as at 32. Said cap is preferably formed of metal or other suitable non-inflammable material. The disk 24 is preferably formed of metal or other suitable non-inflammable material and is diametrically dimensioned to sit on the rim 34 of collar 18. The nipple 26 is formed of a suitable non-inflammable material, preferably a suitable flexible plastic such as polyethylene. Said nipple comprises a circular base 36 provided with a central aperture 38 from which there extends a hollow neck 40 which is integral with the base 36. The tube 28 is formed of a suitable flexible and resilient material, preferably a plastic, neoprene being preferable for use to dispense gasoline from the container 10.

Pursuant to the present invention, the reversible pour- 3 1 l Patented May 25, 1%65 ing spout assembly is used to close the container 10 as well as to dispense the contents thereof. Referring now to FIGURE 2 in detail, the assembly 12 is shown in position to close the container 10 so as to prevent the pouring of gasoline or other fluids from the container as well as to prevent the escape of noxious fumes therefrom. As shown here, one end 42 of dispensing tube 28 is engaged on the hollow neck 40 of nipple 26 so as to define a pouring spout 44 therewith. The pouring spout is inverted so that the base 36 of the nipple is seated on the rim 34 of collar 18 and the tube 28 extends through opening 14 in the top wall 16 of the container 10 into the hollow interior of the latter. The disk 24 is seated on the base 36 so as to close the opening 38 therein and thereby to close the container opening 14. The cover lid 22 is then threaded onto the collar 1S so as to securely seat the nipple base on the rim 34 with the disk overlying the nipple base and underlying the aperture 30 in the cover so as to completely close the passage from the interior of the container through spout 44, collar 18 and the cover opening 30. Consequently neither the liquid or gas contents of the container can escape therefrom.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an alternate disposition of the spout assembly 12 to close the container against inadvertent escape of its liquid or gaseous contents. As here shown, the closure disk 24 is seated directly on the collar rim 34 to close opening 14. The spout 44 is disposed in upright condition on the disk, the nipple base 36 being in abutment with the disk and the tube 28, extending upwardly therefrom. The tube is threaded through the aperture 30 in lid 22 so that the nipple base abuts the inner surface of the lid. The lid is threaded onto the collar to releasably secure the parts in the assembled position thereof shown in FIGURE 4. In this closure condition the outer surface of tube 28 is never immersed in the contents of the container, as in FIGURE 2, so that the outer surface of the tube is always dry.

In order to mount the spout 44 for dispensing the contents of the container, the parts are mounted in the same positions thereof shown in FIGURE 4, except that the disk 24 is removed. With the disk removed, it will be apparent that there is a discharge passageway to the exterior of the container through opening 14 and the spout 44. It will be apparent that in said condition of the various parts, the base 36 of the spout is seated directly on the collar rim 34 and the spout extends through the lid aperture 30, the lid being threadedly engaged on the collar to securely retain the spout in its upright or erect disposition. With the spout in its erect condition, the free end 46 of tube 28 may be readily inserted into the feed pipe 48 of a gasoline tank in a motor vehicle 50. The flexibility of tube 28 facilitates its insertion into the feed pipe to supply gasoline G or the like thereto.

After the gasoline has been dispensed, the disk 24 is reinserted and the pouring spout assembly 12 may be reassembled either in the condition thereof shown in FIG- URE 2 or as shown in FIGURE 4.

While I have illustrated and described the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without, however, departing from the basic inventive concepts thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container provided with a raised collar which defines an opening therefor, a closure lid for said collar, means defining an aperture in said lid, a disk adapted to be seated between said collar and said lid to close the aperture therein, and a pouring spout having a base portion provided with a tubular extension atone surface of said base portion, said base portion being adapted to be seated within said lid with the other surface thereof in abutment with said disk and with said tubular extension projecting into said container through said collar, and said base portion being adapted also to be seated within said lid with said one surface thereof in abutment with said aperture defining means of 5 said lid and with said tubular extension projecting through said lid aperture outwardly of said container, said base portion being formed of flexible plastic material to provide a seal between said base portion and said raised collar when said tubular extension projects into said container;

2. The combination as in claim 1, and said disk being adapted to be removably seated between said collar other surface of said base portion when said tubular extension projects through said lid aperture, said base portion providing seals between said raised collar and said disk when said tubular extension projects through said lid aperture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/73 Hallock 222530 X 8/89 Dietrichs 222-539 11/21 Wehle 222-464 X 2/41 Clarke 222-568 8/53 Lay 222539 2/57 Larrabee 222539 8/62 Harvey 222464 X FOREIGN PATENTS 7/46 France. 1/51 Great Britain.

15 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A RAISED COLLAR WHICH DEFINES AN OPENING THEREFOR, A CLOSURE LID FOR SAID COLLAR, MEANS DEFINING AN APERTURE IN SAID LID, A DISK ADAPTED TO BE SEATED BETWEEN SAID COLLAR AND SAID LID TO CLOSE THE APERTURE THEREIN, AND A POURING SPOUT HAVING A BASE PORTION PROVIDED WITH A TUBULAR EXTENSION AT ONE SURFACE OF SAID BASE PORTION, SAID BASE PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO BE SEATED WITHIN SAID LID WITH THE OTHER SURFACE THEREOF IN ABUTMENT WITH SAID DISK AND WITH SAID TUBULAR EXTENSION PROJECTION INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID COLLAR, AND SAID BASE PORTION BEING ADAPTED ALSO TO BE SEATED WITHIN SAID LID WITH SAID ONE SURFACE THEREOF IN ABUTMENT WITH SAID APERTURE DEFINING MEANS OF SAID LID AND WITH SAID TUBULAR EXTENSION PROJECTING THROUGH SAID LID APERTURE OUTWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID BASE PORTION BEING FORMED OF FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO PROVIDE A SEAL BETWEEN SAID BASE PORTION AND SAID RAISED COLLAR WHEN SAID TUBULAR EXTENSION PROJECTS INTO SAID CONAINER. 